-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` Down the shore , everything 's all right , '' President Barack Obama declared Tuesday on his return to New Jersey 's devastated coast seven months after Superstorm Sandy caused billions of dollars in damage there .

The line from the Tom Waits song `` Jersey Girl , '' popularized by local hero Bruce Springsteen , was the main theme of the joint visit by Obama and Gov. Chris Christie to survey recovery efforts and encourage people to hit the beaches this summer .

Christie , a Republican , was criticized last year for appearing with Obama after the devastating storm at the height of the 2012 election campaign and praising the Democratic president 's response .

Obama subsequently won re-election while Christie saw his poll numbers soar .

Tuesday 's return visit by the pair raised anew the perception that both sought to again gain political benefit from jointly touring the disaster-stricken region .

In introducing the president for remarks in drizzly Asbury Park , Christie rejected any political machinations behind efforts to generate federal help for his state .

`` New Jersey is more important , our citizens ' lives are more important than any type of politics at all , '' said the governor , who is up for re-election this year and is considered a potential GOP presidential contender in 2016 .

Obama pledged that his administration will continue to support New Jersey 's recovery , reminding the crowd of his promise seven months ago that `` your country would have your back . ''

Obama 's cuddle bear from Jersey -LRB- no , not Christie -RRB-

`` I meant it , '' he said to applause .

Both Obama and Christie emphasized that Asbury Park , made famous by Springsteen 's roots there , and the rest of the Jersey Shore was open for business .

`` After all you 've dealt with , after all you 've been through , the Jersey Shore is back , '' the president said to cheers , adding that residents `` want all Americans to know that they are ready to welcome you here . ''

To drive home the point , Obama and Christie visited the Point Pleasant boardwalk and even engaged in a `` Touchdown Fever '' football toss , with Obama missing his throws while Christie 's first effort was a winner , sailing through the tire .

`` One and done , '' the governor exclaimed , while Obama gave Christie a high-five and quipped : `` That 's because he 's running for office . ''

A man behind the counter handed Obama a stuffed teddy bear with a Chicago-themed shirt .

Superstorm Sandy forced both Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney to suspend campaign activities for a few days in the final run-up to last November 's election .

Christie , a top Romney surrogate who delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Convention , joined Obama for a tour of the storm damage and made a point of praising the president for his `` personal concern and compassion '' for the state and its people .

The bipartisan display benefited both men , according to polls , and was considered a boost to Obama 's re-election effort in the final days of the campaign .

Christie meets Snooki

In the storm , hundreds of thousands of homes and oceanfront businesses were either damaged or destroyed .

Businesses on the Jersey Shore are still working to recover at the beginning of the busy summer tourist season , which in years past has brought billions of dollars in revenue to the state .

Tuesday 's trip was the second in three days by Obama to the site of a natural disaster following two weeks of controversies involving his administration , including the disclosure of IRS targeting of conservative groups and a secret subpoena for journalists ' phone records .

Obama toured tornado-inflicted damage in Moore , Oklahoma , on Sunday and encouraged further congressional support for programs that bolster emergency management systems for municipalities .

The president praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its quick response to the Moore tornado , just as he did last fall when Sandy struck the East Coast .

Since coming under heavy criticism for missteps in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina , FEMA has been commended by localities for responding quickly to disasters and reducing bureaucratic hurdles .

Sandy relief : The need continues

CNN 's Paul Steinhauser and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report .

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Seven months after Superstorm Sandy , President Obama returns to New Jersey

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Obama quotes a Tom Waits song popularized by Bruce Springsteen

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Gov. Christie says New Jersey and its people are more important than politics

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The pair made a mutually beneficial bipartisan visit after last year 's storm